The Take

Tom Sturdy and Take advantage of Evans in "The Take" Shot in Ireland by Company Pictures & Warner Brothers and sisters for Sky1 and Sky1 HD, and compiled by ITV Art galleries Global Entertainment. Executive producers, Lavinia Warner, Charles Pattinson, George Faber, Helen Flint, Suzan Harrison, Andrew Lowe, Elaine Pyke, Martina Cole producer, Willow Grylls director, David Drury author, Neil Biswas good book by Martina Cole.Freddie Jackson - Tom Sturdy Jimmy - Take advantage of Evans Maggie - Charlotte now now Riley Jackie - Kierston Wareing Ozzy - John CoxA small-scale 2009 British crime drama acquired as original programming for Encore, "The Take" offers the simple pleasure of Tom Sturdy at his brutish, glowering best. Released from prison inside the opening moments, his thuggish Freddie Jackson is actually feral and simian regarding recall Paul Muni inside the original "Scarface," creating an unpleasant and lastly adversarial relationship along with his more cerebral cousin, also well carried out by Take advantage of Evans. "The Take" is mob light, possibly, but nevertheless originates in a way that deftly pulls you through all its four hourlong sections. Hardy's Freddie is virtually no deep thinker. Rather, he's susceptible to settling disputes getting a broken bottle and communicating with them later. Cousin Jimmy (Evans) -- who becomes his unlikely partner -- hardly seems being his match. Besides he rely on his wits, but he even features a lovely girlfriend, Maggie (Charlotte now now Riley), who humanizes him -- and doesn't trust Freddie. Yet with mob boss Ozzy (the always-splendid John Cox) in jail, the two still handle his dirty dealings, no matter the growing tension together. And without giving a lot of away, alliances alternation in unpredictable ways on the length covering 10 years. In the mid-eighties, the story, by Neil Biswas (modified from Martina Cole's novel) and directed by David Drury includes enough violence and tragedy to sustain a effective sense of menace -- no less than, prior to the final hour, where the payback does less than equal the buildup. A lot of the drama naturally originates from the mercurial Freddie, a personality Sturdy -- whose resume includes a terrific "Wuthering Levels" remake, before entering director Christopher Nolan's orbit via "Beginning" as well as the approaching Batman follow-up -- turns into a seething, volatile presence. He's the kind of functioning psychopath who is able to trigger inside a moment's notice, and makes what otherwise may well be a rather tired crime drama eminently watchable and suspenseful. Although a couple of from the cultural areas of Britain inside the go-go eighties might not resonate getting a U.S. audience, for Encore, the acquisition nevertheless qualifies just like a no-brainer -- offering pay-TV grit cheaply. On the way, the takeaway from "The Take" again proves a vintage showbiz saw: Cast the very best actor just like a mobster, and being bad might be pretty damn good.Camera, Owen McPolin production designer, Susie Cullen editor, Chris Ridsdale music, Ruth Barrett casting, Emma Style. 4 Several hours. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com